Adrian football team hangs on for homecoming win

You couldn't have scripted the Adrian High School football team's final home game of the season any better.

But at the end, linemen slid in the mud to celebrate, coaches jumped higher than the players and the remaining fans cheered as loud as a sellout.

On a miserably cold and rainy homecoming night, the Maples prevailed 26-25 over Southeastern Conference White Division foe Ypsilanti Lincoln, a game highlighted by a Maple defense that came up big when needed.

"It might be the ugliest football game I have ever seen and been a part of," said Adrian coach Phil Jacobs. "It was a sloppy game all the way around, and I guess we out-uglied them."

Down by one with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, Lincoln quarterback Javin Kilgo lined up in shotgun on third down prepared to take the snap. As the rain came down steadily, the snap was low and right at the ground. Kilgo kicked the ball and ran back to the end zone, hoping to walk away with only a safety, but the ball would slip out of his hands and directly into those of Austin Gray.

Gray emerged from a pile of blue and white holding the ball and the game-changer in his hands. Gray, who wears No. 66 in honor of his dad, could not have had the highlight of his year come at a better time.

"It makes me happy that I made him proud out here and my team," Gray said of the moment. "This'll be something I tell my kids about."

Despite the wild and uncertain ending to the game, Adrian (3-4, 3-1 SEC White) appeared to have control from the moment it received the ball.

On the 38-yard line and less than two minutes into the game, quarterback Hunter Hayes found Jurell Parrish in the middle of the field. Parrish broke away from two defenders and leaped into the end zone, but was hit and fumbled the ball.Fortunately, he was in the right spot to recover as well and ended the drive with six points.

Following a Lincoln (4-3, 1-3) turnover on downs, the Maples began to drive deep within their own territory, but a fumble gave the Railsplitters possession on the 3-yard line.

Dalauren Roberson took the ball five yards with six minutes left in a long quarter to tie the score at 6.

A short possession from Adrian gave Lincoln another opportunity, as it took advantage with a 64-yard run from Roberson, who ran up the middle and broke away on the outside.

With 8:16 remaining in the second quarter, with both teams struggling offensively, the Maples took over in their own territory again, but drove down within the red zone, threatening to tie.

It didn't last long, however, as Hayes was sacked on third and fourth downs for a total loss of 33 yards.

The Maples swung the game in their favor with five minutes remaining, as Jacobs dialed a fake punt. On fourth down from midfield, Jeff Lofton found Parrish uncovered for a 23 yard first down.

"We just didn't have any momentum going offensively," Jacobs said. "I thought it was a good spot in the field to do it."

Ten seconds later, Hayes connected Michael Hamden on a 21-yard pass to tie the game at 12 heading into halftime.

The Railsplitters came out strong in the second half, marching down the field efficiently until Kilgor threw his only touchdown pass of the night to a wide-open K.J. Osborn. The extra point made the score 19-12.

Adrian nearly halted its running game all together in the third quarter, struggling to do anything for positive yardage and turning the ball over twice in the red zone.

The Maples rallied in the beginning of the fourth quarter, though, and with 10:16 left in the fourth quarter, Hayes found Hamden again. This time, Hamden broke away from three defenders and high stepped into the end zone. A two-point conversion put the game at 26-19.

Following Gray's touchdown, the Railsplitters responded with two huge passes. It was the latter — a 39-yard pass to the 3-yard line — that upset the crowd. Osborn pulled down a ball on the opposing sideline, where he appeared to land out of bounds.

The call stood as a catch, though, and Lincoln ran into the end zone shortly after.

With 3:52 to go, the Railsplitters went for two out of the Wildcat formation, but were stuffed by a gang of Maple tacklers, leaving the score 26-25.

Adrian was unable to run out the clock the following possession, giving Lincoln one last chance with 2:39 left

Despite giving up 330 yards, the Adrian defense forced the Railsplitters to kick a field goal on fourth down. The snap was botched, and the Maples recovered to seal the win.

"Coming out last year in our last home game and losing hurt," Hamden said. "Winning means something special to all of Adrian."